A trail town provides a destination around which you can plan your outdoor recreation. Head here for a weekend or more and set up your base camp at a local campground, or enjoy creature comforts at one of the local motels or bed and breakfasts. There are hometown restaurants, shops, and other in-town amenities to complement your outdoor forays on the Trail and other outdoor activities along creeks and rivers in your kayak or out on a bike trail on your bike.

Get to know small-town Ohio's backroads, byways, and genuine friendliness as you base your next outdoor expedition from an Ohio Trail Town.

Featured Trail Towns

Dayton is located along the banks of the Great Miami River on Ohio’s Great Corridor and is known as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the Midwest. Beyond the plethora of hiking opportunities, Dayton is a bicycle-friendly community situated at the center of the largest bikeway network in the country. The gem city also hosts some of the most significant outdoor recreation events in the Midwest while being situated amongst three state-designated Water Trails.

Located in the heart of Wayne National Forest, Shawnee is surrounded by miles and miles of public land. Ohio’s only national forest boasts over 100,000 acres used for hiking trails, fishing sites, camping areas, horseback riding trails, birding areas, and ATV riding areas. As if that wasn’t enough, Shawnee is also only a quick trip away from Burr Oak State Park and Hocking Hills State Park, which claims over 2,500 acres of gorgeous waterfalls, trails, caves, and more. This proximity makes Shawnee ideal for a trip to nature, with something for everyone.

All Trail Towns